Cracking Open the Game Pass Backlog: Three Gems (and One Unfinished Masterpiece) for a Proper Weekend Dive
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Jeff dives into the Game Pass backlog, playfully lamenting rising subscription costs while unearthing three weekend gems: the ethically brutal city-builder *Frostpunk 2*, the long-lasting custom character brawler *Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2*, and the critically acclaimed but surprisingly unfinished RPG, *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, sparking questions about game design and player commitment.
Alright, mates, gather 'round the digital campfire. You know that feeling when you're just trawling through your endless game library, a bit like a wizard sifting through a dusty tome of forgotten spells, wondering what magic (or utter chaos) awaits? Especially when said tome – I'm looking at you, Game Pass – seems to get pricier by the moon cycle. Fair dinkum, it's enough to make a chap wonder if he's getting his money's worth, innit?
With all the recent chatter about subscription changes and the ever-climbing cost of Game Pass Ultimate (thirty quid a month? Bloody hell, that's almost a pint and a half!), it's easy to get caught up in the 'what's new?' frenzy. But sometimes, the real treasures aren't the shiny new releases – they're the ones lurking in the shadowy corners of the backlog, waiting for you to stumble upon them like a forgotten quest item. So, instead of chasing the latest hype, I've been tinkering with some older (and one suspiciously incomplete) titles that are well worth your weekend hours. Think of it as a digital archaeological dig, but with more explosions and fewer dusty bones.
### **Frostpunk 2: Because Who Doesn't Love a Good Existential Crisis?**
Now, if you're like me, sometimes the real world starts to feel a bit... chilly. Metaphorically, of course, but also literally, as my thermostat just gave up the ghost and my cat is demanding a tiny blanket. So naturally, my mind drifts to *Frostpunk 2*. This isn't your grandma's cozy city-builder, mate, where you just plonk down a few houses and watch the little digital folk frolic. Oh no. This is the kind of game where you start with good intentions, trying to keep everyone warm and fed, and before you know it, you're weighing up whether child labour is 'economic stimulus' or just, y'know, *child labour*. It’s a bit like trying to mend a leaky cauldron with a 'minor' blood sacrifice – technically it works, but at what cost to your soul?
The original *Frostpunk* was a masterclass in moral ambiguity, forcing you to make decisions that would make a tax collector blush. And the sequel? From what I've heard, it doubles down on the bleakness, turning societal management into a continuous ethical tightrope walk across a frozen abyss. It’s all about survival in a world that fundamentally doesn't care if you live or die, only if you're warm enough to keep the gears turning. If you're looking for a strategy game that genuinely makes you *think* (and perhaps question your own humanity), this is it. It’s a perfect pairing for the colder months, making your real-world shivers feel positively balmy by comparison. Sometimes, you just need a game to make you appreciate your own slightly-less-apocalyptic reality, eh?
### **Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2: Still Punching Above Its Weight (After All These Years)**
Next up, let's chuck it way back to 2016. Yeah, you heard me. While everyone's still gushing about *Dragon Ball Sparking Zero* – which, bless its heart, just hit its first birthday (can you believe it?) – I'm here to tell you there's still a cracking good time to be had with *Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2*. Now, I know what you're thinking: 'Jeff, mate, why aren't we playing the shiny new thing?' And fair enough, usually I'm all about what's next, always wondering what happens if we tweak *this* code or explore *that* digital dimension.
But there's a particular kind of digital alchemy in *XenoVerse 2*. You get to create your *own* character, your *own* super-powered avatar, and then swan-dive headfirst into the very fabric of Dragon Ball history, correcting distortions and battling alongside your favourite Z-Fighters. It's the ultimate 'what if' machine for Dragon Ball fans, letting you doodle your wildest power fantasies into existence and then play them out in iconic battles – like teaming up with your mates to clobber Great Ape Nappa. While the combat might not have the depth of a *FighterZ* or the flashy newness of *Sparking Zero*, the sheer novelty of seeing *your* custom hero stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Goku and Vegeta? That, my friends, never gets old. It's a genuine testament to how empowering player agency can breathe new life into a well-trodden universe, proving that sometimes, being a part of the story is more compelling than just watching it unfold.
### **Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: The Unfinished Saga (and the Curious Case of the Wobbly Third Act)**
Right, now for the one that really tickles my curious bone, and frankly, makes me wonder if some folks in the gaming press are just like me – easily distracted by a particularly shiny piece of toast. We're talking about *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*. Now, according to the original scribblers, this 2025 RPG is 'stunning' and 'inventive,' with 'some of the best video game acting' this side of Troy Baker. High praise, indeed! Except... one of the chaps apparently didn't even finish it. He 'dodged and parried' his way through Acts 1 and 2, hit Act 3, and then just... stopped. Bounced, apparently.
This is where my digital wizard brain starts sparking. Was Act 3 genuinely 'too freeform' – a noble attempt at player agency gone a bit wobbly, like a teleportation spell landing you in a ditch instead of the pub? Or was it just a case of gaming fatigue, the relentless conveyor belt of new releases making it impossible to truly sink your teeth into a deeper experience? The premise sounds fascinating: real-time parrying mixed with turn-based tactical thinking, all wrapped up in a story that genuinely captivated the reviewer for a good two-thirds of the journey. And apparently, the ending is 'b-a-n-a-n-a-s.'
It makes you ponder, doesn't it? In an age of endless digital playgrounds and the relentless pressure of 'Game of the Year' season, are we – as gamers, as critics, as curious digital explorers – sometimes too quick to move on from a game when it dares to shift its structure? Or is it a genuine critique of pacing and design? I reckon *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* sounds like one of those games that truly rewards perseverance, the kind that might just be a hidden masterpiece if you're willing to push past that 'too freeform' hurdle. It highlights that delicate balance between guiding the player and giving them room to breathe, a challenge many developers grapple with. I might just have to dive in and see for myself if that third act is truly a digital cul-de-sac or a path to something truly extraordinary.
### **Wrapping It Up: Backlog Bliss and the Price of Play**
So there you have it, folks. Three games, from the brutally pragmatic to the fantastically nostalgic, and one that's apparently so good you *must* finish it (eventually). Game Pass might be a shifting beast, with its prices doing their own little dance, but the beauty of it, mate, is that it also holds these absolute crackers in its digital archives. Sometimes, the real magic isn't in the newest spell, but in rediscovering an older incantation that still packs a punch, or digging into a game that challenges your expectations and even your commitment. It's about finding the genuine value beyond the subscription cost. Happy gaming, and may your weekends be filled with more joy than moral dilemmas... unless you're playing *Frostpunk 2*, then all bets are off. And seriously, someone should finish *Expedition 33* and tell me if it’s worth the journey. My curiosity is getting the better of me!
Tags: Xbox Game Pass, Gaming Recommendations, Indie Spotlight, RPG, Strategy
Original article: Polygon